BTW, Lew asked me to assure readers, that Internet posts to the contrary, he is still alive and kicking.
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Magnepan, traditionally an exhibitor at THE Show at the Flamingo, moved over to the Venetian to demonstrate their new .7 speaker with the Conrad-Johnson MF2275 ($3850). Lew Johnson (right) chose the 135Wpc compact overachiever because he wanted to remind everyone that C-J makes great solid-state amps and it was driving the Maggies with aplomb. Clearly both Wendell Diller (left) and Lew Johnson were delighted with the sound (as was I).
The main joy of returning to audio and writing for Stereophile is the pure fanboy excitement of meeting the folk-heroes of high-end and getting to talk them. In one great-sounding room I got to meet three at once: Wendell Diller of Magnepan (one of the nicest humans in the audio schema) as well as Bill Conrad and Lew Johnson of Conrad-Johnson.
Magnepan was introducing the new .7 loudspeaker ($1400/pair), which is a scaled down version of the popular 1.7. I have always found Magnepan's entry-level offerings, the Magnepan MMG ($600/pair) and the earlier SMGa, to be among the highest value,…
Synergistic Research has just introduced four levels of its new, hand-fabricated Atmosphere interconnects ($695–$2500 for a 1m/pair, depending upon level) and Atmosphere speaker cables (approx. twice the price). Non-active, which means that they don't need to be connected to an external power supply, albeit actively grounded, the cables come complete with blue and red tuning bullets specifically designed for this new "passive" cable line.
"I would put these up against any cables on the market," Synergistic Research's anything-but-passive Ted Denney (above) told me. While the cables are…
No, we're not talking alchemy, but rather AudioQuest's new line of USB to Lightning cables. Designed to facilitate transfer of music from iOS devices to computers or whatever, AQ's Cinnamon, Carbon, and Diamond models made their first appearance at CEDIA. Steve Niemi of AudioQuest (above), who introduced me to the cables, forecasts the lowest-priced Forest model by summer.
It's not every show that a cable company invites a publication's staff to breakfast to preview a power conditioner whose faceplate isn't even ready for viewing. But after a short but most impressive listen to the patent pending circuitry in AudioQuest's forthcoming Niagara 7000 Low-Z Power–AC Grounded Noise-Dissipation System ($TBD), I'm convinced that something special is coming our way.
The Niagara's designer, Garth Powell, an active jazz musician/percussionist who is now Director of Power Products, Engineering at AudioQuest, claims that differential sample tests and spectrum analysis…
Grant Samuelson of Shunyata Research introduced me to the company's new Sigma series of power cords. Designed to intercept noise at a component's power supply, the Sigmas are available in different models specifically intended for digital, analog, and high-current equipment. Each model has a different ETRON filter set that measurably reduces noise for the class of equipment for which it is designed.
Naim's new Super Lumina range of high-end interconnects and speaker cables was developed in parallel with its new, ultra-expensive Statement amplifiers. Designed to complement the Statement, 500 Series, and Classic products, the cables feature an advanced version of Naim's patented Air-Plug technology, and silver-plated over copper conductors, connectors, and terminations. Optional gold terminations for fitting with non-Naim equipment are available. Although US prices are not set yet, UK RRP prices including VAT for the source-to-preamp interconnects are from £1750/pair for RCA up to £3000/…
Critical Mass has just released its new entry-level Sotto Voce equipment rack ($4500 for four tiers). Far more affordable than the company's other racks, it is made of Sapele, a wood that I understand is in the Mahogany family. The rack is upgradeable to include Critical Mass's filter systems that enhance component performance. The upgrade path starts at $225, and can include filter systems that cost up to $2895.
Hi-rez pioneer/evangelist/recording engineer Mark Waldrep of AIX Records held forth in the Hi-Res Audio Showroom in the Venetian Hotel, near booths from Super HiRez and HDTracks. AIX Records' 2015 sampler, containing three different mixes of 70 tracks drawn from its rich catalog, is due sometime in February.
Marc Sheforgen (left) and Chad Kassem (right) of Acoustic Sounds' Super HiRez DSD download site spilled the beans that in a few weeks, the world's first live-to-DSD hi-rez recordings of "a handful of" blues artists will become available as both stereo and multi-channel downloads. Recorded in the company's Blue Heaven recording studio/concert venue, a converted church in Salina, KS, these may be the first unedited live DSD recordings ever issued. Also expected are Super HiRez's first multi-channel rollouts of classical, blues, rock, and pop titles, which will be available in both DSD and PCM…